Mothersill aiming for the podium at the IAAF World Championships 2005

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Mothersill aiming for the podium at the IAAF World Championships 2005

Cydonie Mothersill winning her heat in the 2004
Athens Olympics. AFP PHOTO/ROMEO GACAD

Monday, August 1, 2005

With the IAAF World Championships just around the corner, Cydonie Mothersill is calmly preparing for her speciality, the 200 metre dash. This in spite of the weight of expectation that rests on her as the Cayman Islands� top track and field athlete.

The World Championships, which take place in Helsinki, Finland, is an event that has not been kind to Mothersill in the past. Despite some excellent performances throughout her career, medals have eluded her in the World Championships. At least up to this year. However, the 27-year old Mothersill believes that 2005 might well be her year, and has set her heart on a podium finish in Helsinki.

Mothersill is however not one to boast. Her words have been backed up by hard work in the gym and on the track. This in turn has lead to very solid results on the track this season. These included three wins in Brazil, a gold medal in the CAC games in the Bahamas, and a win in the Tessaloniki 2005 Grand Prix II meeting in Greece on 17 July.

In spite of these results, Mothersill still feels the pain of what was, when measured against her high standards, a failure in the Olympic Games last year.

�I was so disappointed when I did not make it to the finals in the Olympics. I let myself and the country down. But I have put that behind me and my coach and I went back to the drawing board to ensure that I improve,� she said.

Improve she did, setting a new personal best time of 22.39 seconds in the heats of the 200 metre dash during the CAC games. In the final, Mothersill posted an even faster time of 22.26. This was however not recorded as her personal best, as the tailwind was stronger than allowed under IAAF rules.

�This year I am running a more technical race than I did last year. At this level everyone is just as talented, just as fast, and just as strong. It comes down to who is mentally stronger and who wants the medal. This year I want it,� she said.

�I am getting older and more mature. At my age now, winning is very important.�

Mothersill will be running her first race of the 2005 World Championships on Wednesday 10 August, when the qualifying rounds of the women�s 200 metre dash takes place.

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